Oasis At Knebworth
11 August 1996
At this stage of Oasis's career they were top of the Britpop pile and were looking for the next big conquest. Knebworth was a venue that had long been associated with the biggest acts in rock history; Queen, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones had all played there to vast audiences. Oasis now saw themselves as part of this rock legacy and there were only few UK locations left that could handle the crowds that followed them. Oasis wanted to set a new benchmark for an open-air performance; they hired the biggest PA, the biggest video screens, and reportedly sold over 250,000 tickets for 2 consecutive performances. This moment could be seen as the last great Britpop performance; nothing after would match its scale.
I was there
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Have Your Say
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Darrell Irwin, Bristol
We fluked the first day to 'the pit' – the front of 120,000 people! Which meantt we could sit down and chill without being squashed. Pulling Keith (Prodigy) into the crowd with security guards chasing him was ace. Having lost my mate Brad (our lift home) we left Knebworth at 2.00am (found in RAC tent) and headed back to Bristol. I had ticket for second day at Knebworth and left Bristol at 6.30am to get there again. We were the last 4 allowed in 'the pit' where me and me brother sang 'The Masterplan' stood next to a pregnant Daniella Westbrook! 2 gigs that will Live Forever as the best OASIS moments ever!Andy, London
I have been listening to the Knebworth bootleg for the last 11 years, what a set!Funny that their gig at Loch Lomond the week before is never mentioned - it was the best gig scotland has ever seen!Jon Martin, London
I was there. I remember them changing the lyrics "Please don't put your life in the hands of a rock n roll band that'll throw it all away" to "please put your life in the hands of a Rock n Roll band who'll never throw it away" sends shivers down my spine to this day. Awesome...everyone booed the Manics..Stephen Wilson, London
A great day, sun was shining, everyone in great spirits, and then Oasis came on and I was left a little dissapointed.Sound was poor, music and screens out of sinc, Liam really pissed.A great day, but certainly not the best Oasis gig!Michael Jowett, Bradford
What a super day! I was so emotional during Live Forever I cried for about ten minutes after.This gig inspired me to pick the guitar up! A year later I was playing "I wanna be adored" like Squire and I've playing with it hard ever since.Mo Sizlak
The best bit was when my mate Laheney got so excited at seeing Oasis, he fainted like a teenager at a Take That concert!Oh, and Kula Shaker, Manics, Charlatans and Oasis featuring John Squire wasn't bad either.Andrew Laheney, Halifax
I was 18 and somehow we managed to get up the front inside the restricted enclosure (ok not the VIP pit but near enough to be able to see the artists close up, not bad for a crowd of 125,000). A great day with some brilliant performances by the support bands. Then as the sun was setting Oasis came on with Noel Gallagher announcing, "This is history! This is history!" The crowd surged forward and from the start of Columbia to the final song I am the Walrus with a John Squire solo it was amazing.Gavin Penn
that summer will always remain in my heart, a group of my friends went to see oasis at loch lomond in 96, magical expierience hearing the masterplan and champagne supernova, with the hills of loch lomond in the background, I went to see oasis again last year scared it wouldnt be the same, i was wrong they were better than ever !!!John, Northampton
Knebworth was an amazing experence, John Squirre coming on for the encore to lead on Champagne Supernova, the Charlatans the Manics doing their thing. a day i'll never forget.Tom Nottingham
I was there on the great Saturday only a little lad of 12, with my mum stood on cardboard boxes right at the back. Bouncing round to the songs of my heros, I was oasis's biggest fan at the time and it was a dream to see them at such a great venue and a historic weekend that will go down in history, I will never forget itOliver Young
Not forgetting Kula Shaker and Dreadzone!!! What an amazing event, I will never forget it. Especially with the rain pouring down near the end during the Masterplan, and then the fireworks. OASIS!!
Prodigy, Ocean Colour Scene, Charlatans, Manic Street Preachers
Bands
All supported Oasis at Knebworth.
Jo Whiley, Steve Lamacq
Presenters
Presented coverage of the event.